Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Machines can already do 46% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 75%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 46% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2028, and 75% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 365,740 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $102,440 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Board Certified Ergonomist, Certified Professional Ergonomist, Cognitive Engineer, Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation | 10% | 70% to 95% | |
| Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance | 8% | 55% to 88% | |
| Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests | 6% | 55% to 85% | |
| Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces | 6% | 55% to 85% | |
| Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products | 6% | 25% to 50% | |
| Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions | 5% | 35% to 58% | |
| Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement | 5% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills human factors engineers and ergonomists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Nanosystems Engineers68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Validation Engineers71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $102,440
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers70% of tasks by 2035 · US median $109,370
- Physics Teachers, Postsecondary56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $100,310
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2028. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of human factors engineers and ergonomists?
Machines can do 46% of the tasks of human factors engineers and ergonomists today and 75% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2112.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/human-factors-engineers-and-ergonomists/